Oil-separating apparatus



April 5 1927.

w. M. LITTLE ET AL OIL SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. s. 1925 s sheets-sheet `1 April 5 v1927;

Filed Deo. 5. 1925 giga: 2. y

' M575 64s azlnfr mauri/S H4576 INE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 an# ur HMS M575 PE nliratentied Apr. 1927.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

WILLIAM M. LITTLE AND JESSIE L. SHERMAN, OFNORPHLElI', ARKANSAS.

i OIL-SEPARATING APPARATUS.

Application led 'December 5, 1925. Serial No. 73,493.

The present invention relatesto a separating apparatus for crude oil, and aims to provide means for efciently and thoroughly separating the water, gas, composition of 5 mud, and like other foreign constituents of crude oil from. the good oil. I

Another very important object-of the invention is to provide in a separating apparatus of this nature, a heating apparatus so l0 that the separator will be adaptable to any climate, under any circumstances, and Wlll separate any gravity or quality of oil.

A .specific object of the invention 1s to'` provide an improved heating apparatus wherein 'the same is provided with a perforated feed pipe in the bottom of a boiler structure through Which the oil is forced. about 4the ilues of the boiler structure and providing a perforated crown sheet over the lues through which the oil is also forced so as to break up the globules and to assist in the separating of the last part of the Water from the oil.

Another very important object of. the in- .vention'is to provide a heating apparatus in combination Witha chemical treating equipvment for treating the oil after it has passed from the heater and finally al separator. for thoroughly eliminating any gas or Water which may remain in the oil before it is sent to storage. A I Another very important object4 of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this nature which is exceedingly simple in all. its features, in its details of construction and in its arrangement: C

A still'further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this nat-ure which is thoroughly vefficient in its operation, reliable, inexpensive to manufacture and operate, easy to manipulate, one which requires little attention, one which is not likely to readily become out of order, and one which is otherwise Well adapted tothe purposeffor which itis designed.

With' the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in l the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described andv claimed.

Inthe drawing.: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparat-us embodying the features of our invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section' Figure 4 is an end elevation of the appara v tus,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section through the c emical treating apparatus, and

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially onthe line`6-6 of Figure 1 throughthe heating apparatus.

Referring to the drawings inl detail it Will be seen that the letter A designates generally the heating apparatus, the letter B the chemical treating apparatus, and the letter C the separator. These units A, B, and C are connected in the order mentioned, the heating apparatus lying in spaced parallel relation with the separator C and the chemical treating apparatus B being disposed .transversely therebetween. This assemblage is very compact, but, of course, itmay be varied. to suit circumstances, and does notform an essential part of our invention.

YReferring noW in detail to the heating apparatus which is illustrated tov particular advantage in Figures 2 and 6 it will be seen that D represents the flow line from the Well 1 i or other` suitable source of crude oil. crude oil flowing through this pipe line D usually consists cf oil, water, gas, and a` composition of mud, etc. termed in the art B. S. A branch 5 leads upwardly from the pipe line D and has' a valve 6 therein and a branch 7 continues from the pipe line D and has .a valve 8 therein. The valve 6` isV closed, and the valve 8 is opened when the oil is to be forced through the heating apparatus A, as Will become more apparent i as the .description proceeds. The valve 8 is closed, and-the Valve 6 is opened when it is not necessary'or desirable to force the oil through the heater, and the ylatter is turned off. .This is desirable /When the oil is thin and the weather exceedingly warm. The heating apparatus is housed within a boilerlike casing 9 of substantial' cylindrical formation having the lower portion of one end thereof formed to provide a lire box or chamber 10, lin which is mounted a gas burner, or any other suitable source of heat indicated at 11. i i i The gas line is shown at k12, and is con; y 1

trolled by a suitable valve 13. The walls 14 and 15 separate the fire compartment 10 from the rest of the interior of the boilerlike casing 9. A perforated crown sheet 16 the groups of fines 17, and communicates at its ends adjacent wall 14 with' the branch 7. In actual practice we find it desirable to construct the apertures of the tube 19 about one-half inch in diameter and to disposev the tube aboutthree inches lfrom the bottom of the boiler. The oil from the branch 7 Hows into the tube 19 and enters the boilerlike casing from said tube, the apertures in the tube tending to break the oil, water, gas, and B. S. to make the same separable. The crown sheet is thoroughly welded in the casing 9, and the apertures therein function to the same end as the aperturesin the tube l19, as the crude oil is forced therethrough,

but are even more effective since the crude oil has been heated by passing through the spaces between the iues 17. A visual level indicating gage 20 is provided one end of thecasing 9. On top of the casing 9 there are provided domes 21 and 22. The dome 21 has the branch 5 leading thereto and a break gate 23 is situated within fthe dome 21 at the point of communication thereofv with the branch 5 and serves to break up the crude oil particularly for the purpose of separating the gas globules which are so common .in crude oil, thereby making the ,oil easier to separate and throwing the waste gas. which is of no service, off at pipe 24.

The dome 22 is provided with a screw cap 25 affording ready access to the interior thereof. A standard 26 has its lower end bifurcated to straddle the tube 19 and rest on the bottom of the casing 9. This stand- -ard rises between the groups of {iues 17 as is indicated to advantage 1n Figure 6. A rocker 27 is pivoted intermediate its en'ds on the upper end of the standard 26 as isl indicated at 28. Another rocker 29 is pivoted intermediate its ends to the stand-` ard 26 immediately above the lower bifurcat-ed end thereof as is indicated at 30. A link 31 connects adjacent ends Eof the rockers 27 and 29. The other end of the rocker 27 is pivotally engaged as at 32 with a float 33. This float 33 is in the form of a hollow container having a screw cap 34 at the top end' thereof. By removing the caps 25 and 34 it will be seen that shot or other weight material may be placed in the float 33 to suit the particular' quality of oil which is being separated. The other end of the rocker 29 is curved upwardly and then downwardly, as is indicated generally at 35 and terminates in a ball 36 seatable on the upper end of a waste pipe 37 which extends vertically between the groups of flues 17, piercing the. bottom of the casing 9 and having therein a suitable valve 38. The ball 36 opens and closes the waste pipe on the raising and lowering float 33 and allows the first formation of water, mud, and other B. S. to escape from the oil running out through the waste pipe 37, allowing the remainder to be taken out by the separators C, as will be brought out later. A smoke stack is indicated at 39 at the end of the casing 9 adjacent wall 18, and the lower end thereof is bifurcated as indicated at 40, and the fines 17, of course, extend into these bifurcated portions. A clean out waste pipe 41 pierces the wall 18 at the bottom of the' casing between the groups of fines 17, and extends between the portions 40.

A valve 42 is provided in the clean out waste line 41, and may be opened for flushing out the casing 9, and gen'eral vcleaning purposes. A pipe 43 .leads from the end and top of the casing 9 t0 the chemical treating apparatus B.

Referring now particularly to the chemical treating apparatus illustrated to advantage in Figure 5, it will be seen that 44 designates a tank adapted to contain chemical which may be placed therein by removing the cap 45 from the neck 46. A glass tube 47 depends from the tank 44 into the neck 48 rising from the pipe 43. A valve seat 49 is associated with the top of the tube 47, and a needle valve 50 is mounted for controlling the seat 49 so that the chemical in the tank will drip through the glass tube 47 as the oil Hows through the pipe 43 from the heating apparatus just described to the separator about to be"described.

The pipe43 leads to a gas separating mechanism which is designated generally by the'letter F, and includes a plurality of vertical pipes 51, 52, 53. and 54. We have shown four of these pipes, but thenumber thereof may be decreased'or increased depending entrelyupon circumstances, and more particularly upon the size of the separator C. These pipes 51 to 54 inclusive are connected by a pipe 55 having an escape pipe 56 leading therefrom. At the point of communication of the pipe 55 with pipes 52, 53, and 54 there is provideda break gate 57, similar in construction and pur ose to the break gate 23, previously described in detail. The pipes 51 to 54 inclusive all c ornmunicate with and rise from a lcasing 58 having a dome 59 rising therefrom between p1pes51 and 52. A cap 60 is threaded on iso Ato the bottom of the float 61 to be actuated thereby. A waste line 67 leads through one.

' end ofthe tank 58 and terminates in the tank p in adownwardly disposed extension 68 having a valve seat 69 therein with which cooperates a valve 70 adjustably mounted -as at 71 on the other end of therocker 64, so that as the float 61 lowers, the valve 70 closes. The float 61 is weighted so that it will float in water, but sink in oil so that as the water accumulates -inl the bottomA of the tank 58 the float will rise to open the valve so that the water may flow out with the B. S. through the pipe 67. The good oil is taken oil through the pipe 43 which communicates with the point Where the break gate 57 is located.

It is thought that the construction, opera-` tion,and advantages of this invention, will now be clearly understood without a more detailed description. I'

It is desired, however, .to point out that the heating apparatus makes this sepa-rating apparatus adaptable toany climate under anv circumstances, and so that the apparatus will separate any gravity or quality of oil, as the application of heat,.' together with the v.forcing of the oil through-the perforated.

feed, tube 19 in the bottom of the boiler-like casing 9, and again through the perforated separated from the oil as is desirable. The

chemical treating equipment affords an eilicient, reliable `and convenientmeans for injecting the chemical into the oil when it is most receptive therefor. The Hood or break gate equipment 57 in the gas separating equipment F is located .above the separator which is very similar in construction and the same in principle as the separator shown in the application filed by us on September 4, 1925, and assigned Serial No. 54551', just breaks the oil more extensively, making .it possible that the'same may be separated, the gas escaping through the escape pipe 56, and finally allowing the pipe line oil to pass out through the pipe 73.

The present embodiment of our invention H has been disclosed in'detail becausein actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumera-ted as desirable in the statc` ment of the invention and the above descripa tion.

It will, be apparent, however, that numerous changes in the details of'construction, and in the Vcombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to witlout pipe 54 through pipe 75 at the departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrilc infr any of itsadvantages.

aving thus described the invention, l

what we claim as new is 1. Aheatmg and separating unit for an apparatus of the lclass described including,

in combination, a. boiler like casing, a lire box structure associated with the casing, flues leading from the re box through the bottom portion of the casing, afperforated feed tube in the bottom of the casingbe tween the flues, a perforated crown sheet over the `flues, a standard rising in the casing, a waste pipe extending into the casing, a rocker pivoted on the standard and having a valve closable over the waste pipe, and float means for operating the rocker. A p

2. A heating and separatingunit for an apparatus of the class describedincluding,

in combination, aV boiler like` casing, a lire box structure associated with the casing, flues leading from the fire box through the bottom portion of the casing, a perforated feed tube in the bottom of thevcasing between the ilues, a perforated crown sheet overl the ilues, a standard rising in the casing, a waste pipe extending into the casing, a rocker pivoted on the standard. and having a valve closable over the Waste pipe, a second rocker pivoted on the standard, a link connecting the last mentioned rocker to the first rocker, a float on, the second rocker in the form of a hollow container hav-ing a screw cap, a .dome rising from the casing and having a screw cap thereonV so that access may be had to thejioat which is movable in thefdome. l Y

3. A heating and separating .unit for an,

.apparatus of the class described includng,

in combination, a boiler likey casing, a fire box structure associated with the casmg, flues leading from the lire box through the lil() bottom portion ofthe casing, a perforatedv feed tube in the bottom of the casingbetween the lines, a .perforated crown sheet over the fines, a standard rising in the casing, a waste pipe extending into the casing,

4-a rocker pivoted on the standard and hav-` ing a valve closable over the Waste pipe, a second rocker pivoted on the standard, a link connecting the last mentioned rocker to the first rocker',a float on the second rocker in the form of a hollow container having a screw cap, a dome rising from the casing and having a 'screw cap thereon so that accessmay be had to the float which is movable in the dome, a branch leading from the perforated tube, a second branch, a second dome on the casing, said second branch leading to the second dome, and valves in said branches. 1

4. A heating and separating unit for an apparatus of the class described including,.

in combination, a boiler like,casing, a lire box structure associated with the casing, iues leading from the lire box through the bottom portion of the casing, a. perforated feed tube in the bottom of the casing between the lines, a perforated crown sheet over the flues, a standard rising in the casing, a waste pipe extending into the casing, a rocker pivoted on the standard and having a valve closable over the waste pipe, a`

second rocker pivoted on the standard, a

- link connecting the last mentioned rocker casing and having a screw ca located in the second dome at the point of communication of the second branch with said second dome.'

5. A heating and separating unit for an apparatus of the class described including, in combination, a boiler like casing, a lire box structure associated with the casing, fines leading from the fire box through the bottom portion of the casing, a perforated feed tube in the bottom of the casing between the ihies, a perforated crown sheet over the ues, a standard rising in the casing, a waste pipe extending into the casing,-

a rocker ivoted on the standard and having a valve c osable 'over the waste ipe, a second racker pivoted on the standar a link connecting the last mentioned rocker to the first rocker, a float on the second rocker in the form of a hollow container khaving a screw cap, a dome rising from the casing 'and having a screw cap thereon so that access may be had to the float which is movable in the dome, a branch leading from the perforated tube, a second branch, a second dome on the casing, said second branch leading to the second dome, and valves in said branches, and a break gate located in the second dome at the pointof communication of the second branch with said second dome, a gas escape pipe rising from the second dome.v

6. A heating and separating unit for an apparatus of the class described including, in combination, a boiler like casing, a fire box structure associated with the casing, flues leading from the fire box through the bottom portion of the casing, a perforated feed tube in the bottom of the casing between the lues, a perforated crown sheet over the fines, a standard rising in the casing, a waste pipe extending into the casing, a .rocker pivoted on the standard and having a valve closable over the Waste pipe, a second rocker pivoted on the standard, a link connecting the last mentioned rocker to the first rocker, a float on the second rocker in the form of a hollow container having a screw cap, a dome rising from the caslng and having a screw cap thereon so that access ma)7 be had to the float which is movable in the dome, a branch leading from the perforated tube. a second branch, a second dome on the casing, said second branch leadn to the second dome, and valves in said ranches, and a break gate located in the second dome at the point of communication of the second branch with said .second dome, a gas escape pipe rising from the second dome, an oil take off pipe leading from the casing, a chemical treating apparatus associated with said take off pipe, and a gas and water separator to which saidtake off pipe leads.

In testimony whereof we aix our signatures.

WILLIAM MJLiTTLE. JEsvsIE L.V SHERMAN. 

